If the Church of Laodicea can be compared to the final stage of Church History, then lukewarmness is its trademark. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue [vomit] thee out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16 KJV). In spite of Laodicea’s lukewarmness, Christ gives her an invitation, the final call to repentance before He unfolds tribulation upon the earth. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (3:20). We have been comfortable in the world, rationalizing Christ can benefit from our riches, but blinded by self-interest, we have not seen the glories of the Invisible Christ in the Unseen Realm. O LORD, awaken Your people! May we acknowledge Your displeasure because of the slowness of our heart in believing You. Be merciful to us and cause us to make an impression on those left behind. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen and amen.
Pre-Tribulational Rapture
Eagerly Awaiting His Return
Unapologetically, we eagerly await our Lord’s return, for how can we be and do otherwise? After all, only those will be raptured. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28 KJV). What salvation is spoken of? The salvation of your physical body at the Rapture. Remember, the Rapture is the Catching Up to meet the Lord in the air before He returns. “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:17). Listen to Amir Tsarfati: Like Those Who Dream (2:30) preach on the word “eagerly”: (1) “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20 NIV), (2) “For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope” (Galatians 5:5 NIV), (3) “Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed” (1Corinthians 1:7 NIV), and (4) “But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance” (Romans 8:25 NKJV). LORD, we eagerly await Your return, but we do not want to be lazy about Your business of reaching this world. We desire to know You better and the power of Your resurrection. As we watch the events unfold in Israel, may we lift up our heads, for our redemption draws near. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Judge Righteous Judgment (Part 4)
Since Christians will “judge angels” (1Corinthians 6:3 KJV cp. Matthew 8:29), they must first stand before the Bema Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10) after they had been caught up or raptured (1Thessalonians 4:17) into the presence of Christ at His Second Coming (Titus 2:13). Bible prophecy chronology teaches us: (1) Christ’s Second Coming will occur (Revelation 1:7), (2) the Judgment of the Nations will occur (Joel 3:1-2; Matthew 25:32, 34), (3) the Millennium will follow (Revelation 20:1-6), (4) the final rebellion of Satan and his angels will occur, it will fail, and they will be judged (Revelation 20:7-10), (5) the White Throne Judgment will occur (Revelation 20:11–5), (6) the New Heavens and New Earth will occur (Revelation 21), and (7) Eternity will follow (Revelation 22). Judging angels is truly a function of God’s Divine Council, of which we shall be a part (1Corinthians 6:3). LORD, help us that our conduct will be in keeping with the dignity of Your court. Amen and amen.
Peace in the Middle East
When will they ever learn? If the enemies of Israel dedicate their existence to the destruction of Israel, then Israel does not have the ability to coexist with her enemies. A stalemate exists without a natural resolution. Only a supernatural solution would work. Supernatural is the Unseen Realm of Almighty God; but also, it is the realm of the adversary the devil and whomsoever is empowered by that wicked one. Peace in the Middle East will initially come through the Antichrist, who is the “prince that shall come” (Daniel 9:26 KJV). Satan or the “dragon gave him his power” (Revelation 13:2). He will usher in a period of peace to begin the Seventieth Week of Daniel. “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:27). Only time will tell, when the Almighty chooses this solution for Israel’s problems. Father God, even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Fear of Prophecy
The fear that prophecy will do more harm than good seems to be an often found position in Christendom rather than comforting friends about how to act consistently with their Father’s future plans. “It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given” (Matthew 13:11 KJV). Preterists (prophecy has already been fulfilled) are afraid the dispensationalsts (rapture is imminent) will confuse the Church about a rapture non-event, while taking away from or neglecting to relieve the poor until the New Heavens and New Earth are ushered in. Post-Tribulationists (rapture at end of Tribulation Week) are afraid the faith of the Pre-Tribulationists (rapture at the beginning of the Tribulation Week) will be overthrown, when they are required to go through the Tribulation. And, the Pre-Tribulationalists are afraid the Body of Christ will not understand how to act as the world rapidly advances toward the Tribulation Week. What’s the solution? Love the LORD, and love His appearing. “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing” (2Timothy 4:8).
In the Twinkling of an Eye
Heaven is a place, but it is also a change of dimension. Paul attempted to teach this truth to the Corinthians. “Behold, I shew [shō] you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1Corinthians 15:51-52 KJV). The whole study of God and last things brings us to this mystery. In the blink of an eye, we shall change our dimension into Christ’s presence. The last or final blast of the trumpet for both the living and dead saints will produce this instantaneous change. This is the hope of rapture and resurrection for the Body of Christ. LORD, purify Your body of disciples in hope of this transformation. Come quickly. Lord Jesus. Amen.
Rapture: The Blessed Hope
“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13 NKJV). Sure, I’d like to go, if there’s a Rapture, but how do you know it’s so? Harpazō is the NT Greek for catching up or rapture. “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [Greek, harpazō] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:17). Here, harpazō is understandably connected with the “coming of the Lord” (4:15). We will be “caught up” (4:17) to the Lord in the air to reunite with our predeceased brothers and sisters before we all return with Christ. Harpazō also occurs in Revelation 12:5, where the “woman” (12:1), representing Israel, brings forth the Messiah, who is “caught up” (12:5) to the throne of God. Likewise, the Church as the Body of Christ will be raptured to Heaven, after which Israel will be forced to flee “into the wilderness” (12:6). May the Spirit of Christ “comfort” you (1Thessalonians 4:18) with these words, but let us not be impatient or contentious with one another, least of all, about the Rapture. “According to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29).
If You Have to Ask
Then, it didn’t happen. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ, that is. “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7 KJV). This is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, not the Rapture. Everyone without exception will know when Jesus the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords returns. The angels declared, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). With a sharp two-edged sword in His mouth (Revelation 19:15), He will descend at the Battle of Armageddon to “smite the nations” (19:15). As He departed from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12), His feet will touch again the mount, which will cleave in two (Zechariah 14:4). He will judge the nations (Joel 3:1-2; Matthew 25:31-46), then begin His Millennial Reign upon earth (Revelation 20:3-7). LORD, come quickly in judgment and righteousness. Help us in this time of grace to put our houses in order to prepare for Your appearing. Amen.
Riddle of Life
Riddle me this. How can a disciple not experience physical death, yet every disciple, including the departed, put on immortality? Simple. Rapture and resurrection. Disciples who are physically alive, when the LORD returns will be raptured, that is, immediately caught up and transformed into someone with an immortal, undying body. Already departed disciples will be resurrected with also an immortal, undying body. “51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1Corinthians 15:51-55 KJV).
The Hope of Glory
“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27 KJV). Whatever dream we have for physical healing or flourishing, financial deliverance or success, rescue or freedom from oppression, survival or rising above the elements, a Pre-Tribulational Rapture, or even the salvation of loved ones — Jesus Christ alone “is our hope” (1Timothy 1:1 KJV). If anyone or anything is more valuable than Christ to us, then that is our hope. If Jesus is really worth more than everything to me, do I live that way? Am I waiting for Christ to become more popular? Remember, when everyone realizes this truth, it is too late. “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7 KJV).
We Need A Miracle 